Brave The Bay To Help Benefit Make-A-Wish

Staying active all year is important for a number of reasons. However, it may be more important at the holidays, where we have a tendency to overindulge on desserts and other treats. Once again this year, there is a great way to get into shape while helping a great cause.

Brave the Bay is an annual fundraiser put on by our partner, Make-A-Wish Greater Bay Area. Itâ€™s an active, holiday-themed event thatâ€™s perfect for participants of any age.

Three Ways To Participate

Brave the Bay takes place in and around Aquatic Park in San Francisco on Saturday, Dec. 7, with three different athletic events to take part in: Santa Walk and Fun Run, Santa Plunge in the Bay and the Santa Cable Car Pull.

The Santa Walk and Fun Run kicks off the festivities at 8:30 a.m., with registration starting at 7:30 a.m. The event is a family-friendly 5k walk and fun-run that encourages holiday attire. This course is certified, but no official timing is provided, so bring your own timer with you.

The Santa Plunge in the Bay, starting at 10:30 a.m., lets brave participants learn just how cold San Francisco Bay can be in late fall! Whether your approach is to dip your toe and slowly wade in, or quickly dive and get it over with, supporters and onlookers alike will be suitably impressed with your desire to raise money for Make-A-Wish Greater Bay Area.

Towels, hot drinks and showers are provided to participants, who are encouraged to reach out to family, friends and colleagues to pledge money in support of your plunge, and earning the diver some Make-A-Wish fundraising incentive prizes.

If youâ€™re a senior-level manager at your workplace, you can take the Brave the Bay Executive Challenge. Managers can challenge their company, associates, friends and family to donate with the goal of raising the cost of one wish — $7,500. If that goal is met, the boss goes into the bay. Make-A-Wish will provide you a customized fundraising page that links to social media to help you raise funds easier.

Following the plunge, executives and their guests are invited to head to the Plunge VIP area for hot drinks, towels, hand warmers and high fives. Executives who raise $7,500 or more will earn a commemorative robe exclusive for Executive Plungers, along with other fundraising prizes.

Do you want to prove how strong you are? Put your muscles to the test against the SFPD in the Santa Pull beginning at 11 a.m. Gather a team of six to participate, with a fee of $150, and youâ€™ll be pitted against another team to see who can pull a cable car the fastest over a distance of 200 feet.

Want to participate in all the events? Register for the Santa Triathlon at a discounted rate of $60. All triathlon participants will earn a commemorative medal.

Big Goals To Be Met

This yearâ€™s goal is to grant 357 wishes in the Bay Area, hopefully 10 of them funded from this event — $75,000 worth of donations. You can register online for the event, make a general donation or find a participant to support. For more information call (415) 982-9474 or email events@sfwish.org.

Canâ€™t Attend? You Can Help Make-A-Wish Anyway!

You can still help to grant wishes for a local kid in your community even if you canâ€™t attend this wonderful Make-A-Wish event. Consider making a car donation toÂ Wheels For WishesÂ benefiting Make-A-Wish Greater Bay Area.

Wheels For Wishes accepts vehicles in any condition so Make-A-Wish can continue to grant wishes for local kids in your community. Donate a car, truck, SUV, RV, motorcycle, or boat, and help turn your unwanted vehicle into a wish come true.

CDF's mission is to help these benefitting charities fulfill their missions with proceeds from CDF's car donation programs. CDF and all benefitting charities are separate and unaffiliated 501c organizations.